A growing movement of Christian leaders committed to accelerating the multiplication of healthy, reproducing churches is offering 10 hours of almost continuous programming on discipleship via a live webcast from the upcoming Exponential West Conference hosted by Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., Oct. 8-10.

Exponential leaders say they are fueled by a goal to see as many church leaders, small groups, church planting launch teams, individuals and even full churches participating in the discipleship conversation as possible.

The three-day conference beginning today (Oct. 8) will focus on discipleship, specifically five key shifts Christian leaders can make to become better at making and releasing disciples. The event features 27 national and regional leaders in 10 main sessions. The live webcast, available for free to anyone who registers, will include 10-plus hours of nearly continuous programming, organizers said. more >>

Pastor Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, said in their first interview with the media since their son's suicide more than five months ago that they knew all along that the day would come when they would become spokespeople for mental illness.

The Warrens told CNN's Piers Morgan during a taped broadcast of his show that aired Tuesday evening that they kept their son's lifelong struggles with mental disease out of the public eye for the sake of his dignity.

In response to Morgan's question about whether he should have done more as "Rick Warren, America's pastor" about the issue of mental health before their son, Matthew, took his life, Warren replied, "We've always known since Matthew has lived his entire life with mental illness that one day we would be spokespeople for mental illness. Kay and I have known this for years and years. more >>

California megachurch Pastor Rick Warren was in Rwanda this week and encouraged residents of the Central-East African country "to be a nation of purpose, dignity and hope," as he met with local leaders helping to advance his PEACE Plan and Purpose Driven Church initiatives.

A website titled "PEACE in Rwanda," linked to Warren's The Peace Plan website, shared several images and updates regarding the Saddleback Church pastor's travels around the country that started on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

In addition to a rally held in Kayonza District that saw hundreds turn out, Pastor Warren joined more than 200 local ministry leaders in Musanze in the northern province to teach them "how to build a healthy church to change the community it serves," according to the Rwanda PEACE Team's updates. That region reportedly also saw 2,000-plus residents turn out for a separate community rally. more >>

Pastor Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life and founder of Saddleback Church, sent out a message of thanks to his Facebook and Twitter followers who've alerted the social media outlets to remove imposters soliciting money from people who think they're following the real Rick Warren.

Warren announced Tuesday that "179 of over 200 FAKE Rick Warren Facebook pages created by scammers to make money on my son's death have now been shut down. We're still working on the rest. Thanks to you friends for reporting them and thanks for 'LIKING' this real page. I appreciate you so much for your help. God bless you."

The message received more than 13,500 "Likes" on Facebook and 166 retweets and 142 favorites on Twitter. more >>

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Pastor Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, and his wife, Kay, spoke about their grief after the loss of their son, Matthew, and their unfailing hope in God during the Saddleback Church founders' first time back at the pulpit since their son's suicide nearly four months ago.

In an at times gut-wrenching sermon during the first of five weekend services Saturday, the congregation at the Lake Forest campus welcomed the Warrens with a long standing ovation. The couple, who attribute their son's lifelong battle with mental illness as the cause for his death, vowed to remove the stigma of the disease.

"In the middle of all that intense pain, Kay and I have felt the favor of God because of your prayers and we intend to spend the rest of our lives comforting others with the comfort we ourselves have been given by God," said Warren, after reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 to open his sermon, "How to Get Through What You're Going Through." more >>